My maternal grandfather William Greenwood, who at the time of his call up lived in Forest Gate east london, NEVER spoke about his time spent in the Royal Navy (april'41 - January '46). This was unfourtunate for my mother, an only child, who did not have the sort of relationship with her parents where she felt she could ask. It has been many years since they passed away but having and interest in the Navy myself now (2 of my 4 children are in the Sea Cadets)I think that we should all know a little more about what he did for us.
I have spent the last couple of years, off and on, researching what I can.
I now have his certificate of service - but this itself is often a puzzle of abbreviations.
I believe from his records that he was a DEMS gunner and have spent many hours reading about the exploits of these brave men, but I have been able to go no further in tracing the ships that grandad sailed on.
Why? Well this is because his service record only records under 'name of ship' the ship base and I have now come to a closed door as to where to go next.
If I can find which ships he served on then hopefully this will enable me to see if perhaps he was due any medals (as far as we know he never applied for even a war service medal) and most importantly try to trace some old comrades.
On september 4th this year my daughters and I attended Merchant Navy Day at tower hill, where the eldest one was chosen to lay the wreath on behalf of all sea cadets. I was very proud watching her march past with the vetrans and as she stood at the memorial I wondered 'was she standing close by to an old friend'?
It's my desire to find out-can you help, in any small way?
 | 15 October 2014 |
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